This masterpiece of Chinese porcelain is an important example of early
blue-and-white ware from the imperially sponsored kilns of Jingdezhen. Four energetic fish—mackerel, whitefish, carp, and freshwater perch—are depicted swimming along the hips of the vessel; their Chinese names form a rebus for the phrase qingbai lianjie, meaning “honest and incorruptible.” The twisting leaves and stems of the eelgrass, blossoming lotuses, and other flora elegantly frame the fish and re-create the teeming pulse of a lush aquarium. The visual wordplay suggests that the jar may have been made for an elite clientele who, it was hoped,
would be inspired by the rebus’s message of rectitude while drinking their wine.

Flash Forward 2,000 Years. We DO Riedel !

Make the Holidays Special
or Give a special Gift.

RED BLEND CLASS
with Juniper Cooper of Mutual Distribution
November 21st from 5:30-6:30 @MetroWines
What is this all about? 
Is there a plan or winemaker scoops up leftovers and makes a bottle?
Can any grapes be blended together? Why do it?



$20 for tasting and presentation (and a really good time) 
Sign Up by Calling (828) 575-9525
https://metrowinesasheville.com/store/product/red-blend-tasting/

HOMS CINSAULT
We scored again!


So this wine is 100% Cinsault. You know this grape. Yes you do!
Cinsualt is the foundation for most Rose' from Provence. But you rarely see a bottle of 100% Cinsualt Red. The truth is that much like Tannat and Cabernet Franc,
when you produce a bottle that has only one varietal, you better be right
because you can go so very wrong. HOMS gets it right.
Again, the entire staff tasted this bottle and love it. A lighter red,
this bottle would sit well on your Thanksgiving table. Flavorful yet versatile,
a wine that will complement and not overwhelm food flavors.

Teaching Moment: From Jancis Robinson:
Also spelled as Cinsaut. Widely planted throughout southern France
and Corsica. With its lighter skins and soft perfume it is particularly suitable
for rosés and fruity, early-drinking reds, although low yields are needed
to eke out much flavour. It has the advantage over Grenache of being easy
to pick by machine. Cinsault is used to add perfume and fruit to wines such as Minervois and Corbières. The variety withstands drought well and has been important in North Africa, Lebanon, Israel and South Africa where it is most famous as a parent of Pinotage. In southern Italy it is known as Ottavianello.

But Where Can I find it?
Vivino says again: "Vivino doesn’t sell this wine.
Also, we searched other online shops, but couldn’t find it for sale anywhere."

(Vivino is looking for love in all the wrong places!)
$18.99 and on the shelf @MetroWines!

Homs 2018 Chardonnay


This wine is all over Europe and hugely popular
but very HARD to find, if you even can, in USA.

"Vivino doesn’t sell this wine. Also, we searched other online shops, 
but couldn’t find it for sale anywhere."

Because of Euro domination, notes and reviews are in foreign languages!
Ce Chardonnay est un vin séducteur qui distille de subtils arômes minéraux et floraux. La bouche est gourmande, tendre et justement équilibrée. Sa finale, d’une belle fraîcheur, s’achève sur une agréable sensation de légèreté.

OK. I don't know what that says. But what I do know is that the entire staff
tasted this wine and we though it was lovely. We thought HOMS Chardonnay
would please palates that prefer heavy oak to no oak at all.
All this for $16.99 @MetroWines

Still not sure? Wine Searcher lists Best Chardonnays in the World:
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2019/10/the-worlds-best-chardonnays?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20191030-article04
That's Ok. We know you had to look. I did too. Back to Planet Earth.
Operators are standing by @MetroWines to help you with HOMS!

BIG RED of the WEEK#2
*** Portugal ***

From a woman wine maker, an elegant Dao made
from 80% Touriga Nacional, with Jaen,
Tinta Roriz, and others making up the balance.
The wine smells like summer blackberries at the roadside,
and opens with vanilla (due to time in oak), then gives flavors of dried fig,
blackberry, and a cocoa-date finish. Rich but not heavy.

Not available at Vivino or anywhere they searched.
Available in Canada, Ireland and Russia!
oh yeah, and MetroWines! 

$14.99

Big RED of the Week
*** Lodi ***


A powerhouse collaboration between proprietor Gus Kalaris
and winemaker Bob Egelhoff, Axios is a super premium Cabernet Sauvignon
of Napa Valley "cult" status.  Axios, meaning worthy in Greek,
reflects Gus' vision to craft a wine of Bordeaux influence that represents
the richness of its' Napa Valley origin. $19.99

"This is an amazing bottle for the price. Rich. Complex. Napa!"
   John Kerr of The Asheville School of Wine

News Release: Wednesday, October 30, 2019

What Wine Goes IN a Villa?
https://www.wsj.com/articles/lets-raise-a-glass-to-
tuscan-livinghomes-for-sale-in-brunello-country-11571244784


100% Syrah fermented in stainless steel and aged in small barrels. Deep ruby in glass, intense aromatics of blueberry, plum, cherry and spicy notes. Warm and soft with round tannins, this wine is powerful yet delicate. Ciacci Piccolmini is one of the most sought-after producers in Montalcino.
The vineyard is organically farmed. Limited Distribution: $26.


Frizzante!  The word means only slightly sparkling.
"Generalising a bit, you could say frizzanti are a good choice when you want a joyful, quintessentially Italian, democratically priced wine that you can cheerfully polish off a bottle," said Baudains of Decanter.
Read more at https://www.decanter.com/learn/frizzante-it-44392/#YS8IOi2PvcFrViUK.99

 Meanwhile ........


Meanwhile, 10 years in the making, Leonardo is all the rage at Louvre!
https://www.wsj.com/articles/inside-the-louvres-secret-negotiations-
to-mount-the-biggest-leonardo-da-vinci-show-ever-11571760902

Asheville Wine Focus Group

*** KLINKER BRICK ***
Wednesday, November 13th from 5:30 to 6:30

You are probably saying that Klinker Brick is already in the store. The problem is that we had 5 different bottles from the winery, we have narrowed the field to two varietals.

So, the question is: do we bring them back?
IT'S YOUR PROBLEM NOW. YOU DECIDE.

And, BTW, all of these wines are screaming Thanksgiving. PUT ME IN COACH !

* Tips for What To Do if You Inherit Artwork *
https://www.wsj.com/articles/you-inherited-
some-art-work-now-what-do-you-do-11571623260

All great suggestions, but WSJ forgot the Big One!

**** Sparkling ****

But wait, YOU are still frugal. You want Champagne but, despite your lucky break, you want value. We get that. Easy. Cremant!

Agnes Cuvee Cremant, Joillot,
Hard to find:  $39.

 

Sparkling Wine from Burgundy. 
Produced with traditional grapes (70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay) used to make true Champagnes.
And made in the traditional Methode Campenoise. 
Aged at least 18 months on lees, more than most entry-level Champagnes! In fact, in blind taste tests, people choose this Cremant over many famous Champagnes. It’s like a true Champagne at half the cost!

Tasting Notes: Nice pinpoint bubbles. Big creamy mousse, with bright citrus and apple fruit. Clean and refreshing. Terrific value!

This is the time of year when we look to wineries that *** Give Back ***
That said, our BIG RED this week
is Purple Cowboy! 
Every year, Purple Cowboy does a Paso Robles Blend to battle breast cancer and support research.

"A rich, full-bodied wine with aromas of crushed red berries and cherries, notes of cola and cinnamon, and a hint of earthiness. Berry flavors explode in the mouth with cinnamon and cassis in the mid-palate leading to slight cocoa powder tannins on the finish."

$12.99 at Vivino. $13.99 at wine.com.  $14.97 at Wine Chateau.
*** $11.99 @MetroWines ***
So, now it's math. Could be that the "portion of the proceeds"
at a higher price will outweigh the take from quantity sales.
But logic and experience says shoppers will choose the lower price and buy more.

Dark red with hints of purple. Aromas of ripe plum, cherry and cassis are accented with cola and vanilla. Tastes Like: Dark red with hints of purple. Aromas of ripe plum, cherry and cassis are accented with cola and vanilla.
Again, $13.99 at wine.com. $11.99 @MetroWines!

Purple Cowboy creator and Wine Sisterhood founder, Terry Wheatley, is a breast cancer survivor and the Purple Cowboy wines she created have long given back to Tough Enough To Wear Pink.
Terry co-founded Tough Enough To Wear Pink in 2004 with the idea that cowboys would wear pink at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on one night of the competition to raise awareness. The idea took off and Tough Enough To Wear Pink is celebrating its 14th anniversary in 2018. To date, $26 million has been raised at rodeos and western events to support families facing breast cancer,
early detection and research. The goal is $50 million by the 20th anniversary. A portion of the sale of each bottle goes to Tough Enough To Wear Pink.

*** GIVE BACK ***

Ridge Vineyards Dinner at Bone and Broth
and Chef Chris Benson
Wednesday, December 4th, $70 ALL IN


Reserve Your Seat or Give Dinner as a Gift

*** Start the Holidays ***

Call (828) 575-9525 or online:
https://metrowinesasheville.com/wine blogs/blog/entry/
ridge-vineyards-wine-dinner-at-bone-and-broth

Tickets HERE!

News Release: Monday, October 28th

Contact for MetroWines: Gina Trippi

Charlotte Street! It's the Next BIG Thing!

gina@MetroWinesAsheville.com

"Big Shop Selection. Small Shop Service"

Shop:  828-575-9525

google: https://goo.gl/knC8LP

http://www.metrowinesasheville.com/

http://ashevilleschoolofwine.com/

Like us on FB here: https://www.facebook.com/MetroWinesAsheville

Go Italian! here: https://www.facebook.com/CiaoAsheville/

Subscribe to "The Public Palate" here: https://metrowinesasheville.com/contact

"Picpoul and Van Gogh"


This is a stream of consciousness piece on my most excellent but quick trip
to Columbia Art Museum in Columbia, South Carolina, to see
"Van Gogh and His Inspirations"
Wine once again weaves its way into the fabric of art.

https://metrowinesasheville.com/wine-blogs/blog/entry/picpoul-and-van-gogh

*** But Wait, There's MORE ***



*** RED BLEND TASTING ***
Hosted by Juniper Cooper of Mutual Distribution
Thursday, November 21st from 5:30 to 6:30 @MetroWines
Seated. Wines Paired with Small Bites

"Because of their versatility, Red Blends are perfect for holiday gatherings
with lots of guests and as many palate preferences!"
                     Gina Trippi, The Asheville School of Wine
$20 plus tax. Reserve by calling (828) 575-9525
or online: https://metrowinesasheville.com/wine-blogs/blog/entry/red-blend-tasting

*** MORE JUST IN ***
(It just keeps coming!)


Class on Port, Sherry, Madeira and Vermouth
with Andy Hale, Director of The Asheville School of Wine
Tuesday, November 19th
5:30 to 6:30 @MetroWines
https://metrowinesasheville.com/wine-blogs/
blog/entry/port-sherry-madeira-and-vermouth-class-1

*** THIS JUST IN ***
Neyers Vineyards Thanksgiving Tasting
Thursday, November 14th 5 to 6:30 @MetroWines


After a HUGELY Successful Neyers Vineyards Tasting Earlier in the Year,
We have Invited Neyers Back to Present Their Wines for Thanksgiving.

Laurence Vuelta will Present the Wines!
And You know what we say here @MetroWines:
"If you have not been to a wine tasting with Laurence Vuelta,
you have NOT been to a wine tasting!"

More: https://metrowinesasheville.com/wine-
blogs/blog/entry/neyers-vineyards-tasting-1

News Release: Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019